Apis Pack Lore (WIP)

Please don't comment. If you like it, or have suggestions on how to improve my writing, send me a message, I'm always looking to improve. 

Just a collection of the previous parts of my pack's lore (and maybe a few other things). I wish I could include it all on my den page, but I couldn't keep a story short to save my life, and it would quickly reach over the character limit. So I decided the latest arc will be on the den page and all of it will go here. 

I also have tons of lore for specific wolves (over 40 pages in a google doc worth), and all specific lore can be found in the wolf's bio. Around 44% of the wolves have lore, but I hope to expand that eventually. Because of the sheer amount, I won't include it all here, but I may make a spot for the lore of dead wolves. 

 A work in progress, with updates being when I've finished them. Even once posted, I may still edit them. 

The sections won't be posted in an order of importance, just whenever I believe they're finished enough to be posted. The table of contents, however, will be in a specfic order.

Well, if you're still here, enjoy the show!

Table of contents

Arcs 1-3

Arcs 4&5

Arc 6

Pack Rules

Pack Traditions

Important Wolves

The Caves

Two whole chased T3s

Arc 1

Founded by Athena and her mate Ra, and later guarded by the spirit of Anubis, the first death of the pack. 

Upon finding multiple books discarded by humans about their mythology, the wolves decided upon taking the names of their gods. Few wolves don’t follow this, those being ones that walked into the pack instead of being born into it, as well as the ones who didn’t plan on staying. 

Athena was a gentle soul, a wolf of wisdom and her fair share of stubbornness. In her adventures, she met many other wolves and exchanged goods with them, even guiding some wolves she had met along her travels to new homes. She created life long partnerships between her pack, the Chryos Pack and Sciatháin na Saoirse, bonds that remained after her death.  

For seven long years Athena governed her pack with care, making sure none felt abandoned, and mourning those who passed, starting with Anubis. In her final months she made sure to look after her pack, keeping her rowdy grandchildren in check, and making sure Serapis knew what responsibilities he would have when she passed. 

And he did. He made sure to always try to live up to his grandmother’s example. 

Arc 2

In the pack’s 10th year, it was thriving. There were many young wolves, some of the older wolves were thinking about the afterlife, and the couples were young and in love. So Fate decided it would be the perfect time to serve them a curveball, and three major things happened. 

The first event was Lillemor, the bear who would exchange pups. This allowed families to help bring pups to new parents. Certain pups just wanted to leave as soon as possible, but they were still given a shot at new life. It also allowed the gay wolves to have children, something they were very happy about. 

The second event was a bridge to the afterlife. Loki, Serapis and his mate, Chloris’s, first born, was the one to discover this. The spirit of Anubis, the pack’s first death, had found a way to communicate with him, in the form of a butterfly like creature that would constantly be trying to communicate messages back and forth, something Loki wasn’t for. 

It would, however, lessen the blow when Neith, Palaestra and Eris, the older beloved hunters who and helped the new leaders organise the hunting parties, died. Dalia and Sigyn, who hadn’t spoken much to their mothers right before their deaths were able to pass messages to their mothers one last time, even the estranged Aegir was notified and able to send one last message to Palaestra. 

The third event was Khonsu. He had snuck his way into the Dreamlands, and had somehow turned himself blue and Cnitharian. He was as shocked as everyone at this development, but he did appreciate having a different coloured coat to his sisters. 

His mother would also fall pregnant, in similar circumstances to before, which raised eye rolls from the other wolves. 

They weren’t necessarily bad, they were just different, and the pack wasn’t sure how to feel about it. They had traditions, mainly just about their names but still. Changes were changes, and the pack really hadn’t changed much in all it's ten years. 

Serapis and his siblings made sure to calm the others, assuring them that everything would be fine, and life would continue as close to as before, even if it did mean Loki wouldn’t be able to leave his cave without a wolf asking about one of the deceased. 

Arc 3

Three events happened. They started off small, but snowballed into big things. Fate was always one for twists in the tale. 

Event one: A chased T3 Serapis had mistaken for a Khaki. The entire pack was amazed, and amused that he couldn’t tell the difference between Serpentine and Khaki. Serapis laughed along in good humour, silently disappointed in himself. The Serpentine (not khaki) didn’t wish to remain, however, and left after a long sleep and some good meals. 

Event two: A demonic offspring, courtesy of Saga. More questions about her lineage were raised. Said demonic wolf, Morana, grew to have a distaste for Loki, more accurately, the Bridge between Life and Death that he represented. She was very vocal about her belief that the two worlds should remain unconnected, save the dead dying, and she swore to use all the powers she could to sever the bridge. 

This unnerved the pack, not only had a demonic wolf entered the pack, she was now threatening to kill not just a pack member, but the Pack Leader’s first born. Everyone really hoped she was joking, not only for the safety of Loki, but because they had gotten used to being able to contact their dead. 

Morana wasn’t the only one of Saga’s children to have an… incident. 

Event three: Lyssa, Morana’s quiet younger sister, had discovered a crystal. After a brief fight with Morana over it, Lyssa had become an adult. Not instantly, of course, but the next morning she had woken up as an adult, with chunks of crystal embedded in her head and chest. 

After many checks by Agni and Herbert, she was determined to be in good condition. 

“A very healthy adult.” Herbert had said, to the shock of everyone. 

Sure, Saga had pumped out some weird wolves, but they hadn’t suddenly become an adult. The only explanation was the crystal that the two sisters had found, which had now seemingly lodged in Lyssa. 

Nothing could be done now. If Herbert said she was a healthy adult, then she was a healthy adult. 

Pack life continued, although perhaps a little stranger than before. 

Pack rules

Wolves are to be named after deities

Wolves don't have to change their names if they don't wish to stick around the pack forever. If they come from another pack, they must speak to the Pack Leader if they don't wish to take on a god's name, or want to keep their old one

Everyone is accepted, regardless of sexuality or gender

Don't continuously bug Loki about news from the other side

Pups/adols are to stay out of the Dreamlands, unless accompanied by a capable adult

Pups and adols must apply themselves, and participate in training and apprenticeships respectively.

Pack Traditions

Wolves are named after deities (some exceptions from external wolves)

Pack Leaders are to be descended from Athena and Ra

Important Wolves

(Lore wise or Gameplay wise)

The Pack Leader

Thor

Third leader of the pack, son of Serapis and Chloris, and Great-Grandson of Athena and Ra.
After winning against the pack's other heirs, and then a fellow packmate's corrupted worldview, he made sure to lead the pack with precision and his pack's input, while keeping the traditions of his ancestors.

The Pack Stud

Kauket

A newcomer to the pack. After Khonsu's death, she discovered a magical crystal in an unknown cave. Touching it imbued her with a Dreamland coat.

Hunting Leaders

Kore

The daughter of famed hunters Khonsu and Tara. She was chosen by Andraste to lead the hunting parties due to her natural talent.

Luna

The sibling of Kore, and child of Khonsu and Tara. Luna saw Kore struggling with leadership, and knew it was up to him to help her sister.

The Herbalist

Asclepius

Child of Agni, the former herbalist. They were gifted with herbalist knowledge from their father, and chose to dedicate their life to healing the pack.

Pupsitting Leader

Carme

Self appointed with permission from Serapis. She believed that organisation with the pupsitters was as important as is with the hunting parties.

The Life/Death Bridge

Anubis

The sweetheart from Athena's earliest days. He was the first to die, and since then he has protected the souls passing through the afterlife.

Loki

Serapis's firstborn, he was chosen to be Anubis's bride to the living world, able to communicate with the dead.

Notable Pack Members

Tellervo

The first T3 born in the pack, and developed a slight superiority complex due to it.

Morana

The demonic offspring of Saga. She has expressed her desire to destroy the Life/Death Bridge.

Perseus

The first wolf in the pack with a lethal mutation, and the first wolf to be immortalised.

Frigg

The Second Chased T3, and valued member of her hunting team, along with her reptilian companion, Crowley.

The Caves

Just a little something so I can keep track of my caves and their purposes.

  A pack for the esteemed hunters, and the rookies. If they're not out hunting, they're either socialising or sleeping here.

Finally, after managing to kick the pupsitters out, the scouts and herbalist have a cave to themselves. After the creation of the new pup sitting lessons, the mentors were invited to stay in the cave. The (slightly) more the merrier, right?

After being kicked out of a previous one, they made their own cave! It's... kinda strange for it to be just theirs. 

04 - Puppies / Adols

 For the pups who have decided to remain in the pack. While they reside in this cave, they don't have to contribute to pack life, and are free to be useless.

 The adults who haven't taken on a job, due to either a lack of them or laziness. These wolves often help out the pupsitters by hanging out with the adolescents, of which the younger freeloaders are usually friends with. They also may be told to teach a pup training session if all the mentors are busy.

The wolves who have decided not to remain in the pack, whether they be adols preparing for a new, big adventure or adults staying for a quick nap before leaving. 

To make it easy to keep an eye on them, the wolves in pregnancy and nursing pups are corralled into the same cave. 

 Glowing Cnitharian tendrils? Constantly telling an undead soul to shut up? A halo of darkness that is so silent it's just too loud? Whatever reason, you're interrupting a good night of sleep for the rest of us. Just, go and do your weird things in another cave please. 

 Sick? You'll probably be cured right after your diagnoses, but it's better to be safe than sorry!

A Chased T3, twice

The two magically discovered chased T3s. 

***

One day in the swamp, Serapis stumbled upon a wolf. At first glance, the strange wolf appeared to be nothing more than a khaki. Still, he had been chased from his pack, and Serapis would not forgive himself if he didn't invite the wolf back to his pack for a meal and some rest. The stranger happily went with him. 

However, pack at the den, Serapis had discovered he had been wrong. This was no khaki, this was a goddamned serpentine. Whispers ran amongst the assembled pack. A chased tier 3. In their pack.

The wolf decided he liked it there, and figured he would stay for a while. He decided he wanted a name. A cool name for a cool wolf. He chose Jormugandr, along similar lines of the tradition of this pack, but not exactly. But that didn't matter, it's not like any of the others would stop him.

He wound up only staying for a while, before moving on to a new pack that was ecstatic to receive him. 

***

The swamp and rainforest had always been a favourite place for Serapis to explore. The mystical T3 he had found there was still brought up around the pack from time to time. His siblings and two eldest kids would keep joking about him finding another one, and Serapis would laugh along. Serapis would be lying if he said the experience wasn't in his mind when he went far south.

No one ever expected him to do it again.

Until he came back to the den, from the far south, with another serpentine in tow.

She chose to stay, and named herself Frigg.

Arc 4

Pups!
Yet another flood of pups happened upon the pack.

Morana, once she'd grown up, had gone off into the wilderness, and returned pregnant. Her siblings poked fun at her, for continuing their mother's tradition, a tradition said mother continued too. She wasn't the only one to do so, including many other high ranking wolves.

A new addition, perfectly timed for the flood of pups, pup training! Several older wolves decided to give their position to the young, jobless wolves, and moved on to mentoring the pups.


A few other things happened too.

Adols weren't spared from training. They were heavily encouraged (forced) to do apprenticeships.

Saga fell pregnant twice. The first litter had a heterochromatic winged being.

Sigyn, the beloved mother wolf of the den, passed on, instantly begging Anubis to send messages back to all the pups she helped raise, and pack members she made sure didn't die from questionable decisions.

Khonsu produced a teardrop. The child, Mojito, was born to the Chryos Pack, specifically to Jack, the out-of-pack partner of Khonsu, something his pair-bond Tara first supported and then joined.

Loki, the socially and emotionally distant eldest child of Serapis and Chloris, well known for his disinterest in pack life, found a mate, Carme. She was a newcomer to the pack, choosing to leave her old life behind for a new one, becoming one of the increasing number of lunar touched wolves of the pack.

It hadn't been an instant bond, when the two were first introduced Loki had tripped over a branch discarded from a pup training lesson and Carme had laughed at him, which lead to one of Loki's usual absences. After his return, the two would begin to spend more time together until feelings were caught from both parties. After the revelation, and sharing, of said feelings, the two became mates. They were happy, Serapis and Chloris were glad their eldest had found someone, and Ahti could joke about his brother's embarrassing moments to someone who didn't know, and Loki wished would stay that way.


Life's pillar of the Life/Death Bridge would deal with more than a family set on his embarrassment. Morana had never been a big fan of his, and had openly declared her intent to destroy the bridge to the whole pack, but she had never actually acted on that.

Until now.

She wasn't stronger than him, nor was she smarter than him. But she was faster and more agile.

Loki still spent time alone, the desire for isolation not releasing its grip on him even though he now had a mate. Carme understood, and didn't hold the absences against him, and for that he could never properly express his gratitude. Anubis had begun respecting the living wolf's requests for him to leave, and no longer left the den with Loki.

Now, reasonably far from the den, it was just Loki and his thoughts.

...

He didn't notice her presence. He didn't have time to react.

Morana leaped at Loki, her claws swiping at him. Caught off guard, Loki made some blind swipes back at her. The two fought, strength versus agility. Loki howled his loudest, hoping that someone from his pack would hear, and help.

He didn't know how long it took for someone to arrive, but blood was flowing heavily and he couldn't see from one eye. One of the hunting parties had found them, and abandoned their hunt to intervene in the fight.

Tara managed to pin down Morana, and the rest of the team helped get Loki to the den, and healing salve.

Loki awoke in a cave, his parents, Ahti, Carme, and Agni anxiously hovering around him. He would be alright, none of his sustained wounds being fatal and with most of them closing with a faint to no scar. The only exception being one on his right eye.

Morana, too, didn't sustain any life threatening injuries, however a wound on her front leg would scar.

Loki moved to his mother's cave, so as not to have to share with Morana, and so Chloris could keep an eye on him. A closer eye was kept on Morana, someone being sure of where she was all the time.

Arc 5

Since the pack's beginning, they had lived in a world of sure death. They lived, and then they passed onto another realm, uncontactable by the living.

Then Anubis appeared to Loki, and the dead were contactable again. This became the new normal, the wolves eventually no longer categorising it as "strange."

Enter the Jellyfish.


Bau had given birth to two extremely mutated pups, of the brachycephaly variety. Serapis had gone researching, and found that said pups wouldn't last long. Bau refused to accept this, and searched as hard as she could for something to save her children. She'd learnt of the jellyfish, but only had enough time to find one. Perseus lived, while his brother, Heracles, passed on.

But some species of Jellyfish stick together in groups.


One pack member wasn't present during most of the Bau ordeal.

Loki had left, something once commonplace but hadn't happened as much since the fight with Morana. The former and Serapis had had yet another fight about pack roles and heirs, and Loki had stormed out. When he returned, extremely sick, Herbert discovered that Loki had unknowingly made himself immortal. The pack was shocked. Serapis didn't know how to feel about it. Loki didn't know how to feel about it.


But the more the merrier. Morana, too, discovered a jellyfish.

Something about Loki being immortal, where she would have to die and be left in Anubis's paws, didn't sit right with her. The only thing that could get her through her rage towards the other wolf was the knowledge that they would both die.

Now, he wouldn't. That wouldn't work.

She had stormed from the den, a normal occurrence for many wolves by now, and hadn't returned for a few days. Some wolves hoped (very silently) that she had left forever. Sure, Saga was beside herself with worry, but at least their connection to the dead Loki would be safe!

Morana returned, smug and staggering. A rushed visit to the herbalist confirmed it.

Immortality. Now their rivalry would continue for all time, without the threat of death for either. No pack members quite knew how to digest this, especially not their parents.

Bau was, however, extremely pissed that she hadn't crossed paths with a stray jellyfish on the quest to save her children.

Arc 6

Part 1: Life and Death

Despite the existence of the Bridge between worlds, as proven by Loki, and also the fluke of escaping the colder realm, also proven by Loki (and some others), Death still exists, and still must take.

The first was Saga, the beloved weirdo of the pack. She had produced many strange heirs, and no one was ready to accept that pack life would move on without her. But it would have to, for she had crossed over, and was in Anubis's paws now. For one day, Morana allowed herself to quell her anger at Loki, and spent a day with him passing messages between her and her mother. She was taking Saga's death the hardest, for the others were willing to go to Loki to talk with her under the assumption that would never disappear, whereas she knew what was coming. Better to wait a while, though, and let herself mourn.

Ashtoreth, despite not being popular in the pack, was given a proper mourning. Pack members understood that she deserved that, as a descendant of Athena, as well as her heartbroken daughter. Some wolves were silently glad that Ash was dead, however. Her views about who should be pack leader weren't popular, even among her sister's family.

Nyx could barely bring herself to work, her children comforting her with the passing of Aiolos, her mate, the childhood friend whom she'd shared everything with. If her heart had been shattered then, it was absolutely pulverised with the passing of Boreas, her beloved brother with whom she had fought through everything with, something her children tried to help her through as well. She could only hope that when she herself left to be with their parents, that he would be there waiting for her.

All of Ra's descendants mourned Inanna. Her cousins and descendants were there to miss her every day since her passing, as well as her hunting buddies.

Serapis, Agni, Tapio, Hebe, and Beaivi comforted their heartbroken sister, as Andraste was forced to accept that her beloved was gone. No matter how hard Loki tried, Anubis would never bring news of Dalia. Andraste promised herself that she would make Dalia proud, and promised to lead their hunters until her demise, and find someone worthy of taking her place.

Cardea wasn't mourned as much as some would have liked. Her pair bond, Dionysus, was heartbroken, but others weren't convinced it was for his claimed reason of losing a beloved mate. Her children were estranged, siblings either dead or on death's door, and not close to any other pack member. Still, she did have family, and hunting buddies that were the closest thing to friends she had, and they mourned her.

Selvans, Achlys and Tellervo were distraught, as Aiolos, Dalia and Cardea were all their siblings, and even though their closeness was questionable, they were still family.

Hela never had the big family that she had always wanted, but the loss felt through the pack was that of one massive family. She had woven herself so tightly into pack life, her death left a massive hole in the hearts of everyone.


But there was good news, if only a small, singular star in the night sky of despair. Thor, the strange child of Serapis and Chloris, had been born. He had repeated Khonsu's sneaky journey into the Dreamlands, and had emerged… different. Many believed he would become the new Pack Leader after Serapis's death. He was a strong leader already, and people were ready to see where he would take the pack.

There were others eligible, and Thor wasn't guaranteed anything. Would he be chosen? Or would the one raised on stories of her worthiness best him?

Part 2: The Heir

Obviously talks of heirs had started. Serapis was heading towards the end of his life, and did need one. All children eligible were considered. How did one know if they were eligible? Well, there was one rule: They had to be descended from Athena and Ra, the pack's founders.

Firstly, the current Lead's children were examined. This was Serapis, and his chaos kids.

Loki was out. The immortality and Anubis thing gave him his own position.
Ahti was, by his own description, old. Not to mention, but he had no desire to lead the pack, the pups were challenging enough.
Iðunn was an option, she was young and willing to lead.
Thor had been born at that perfect time to become the next Lead, and expressed major interest in the position with leadership skills to back him up.

Then the immediate family of the Lead.

Loki had children, Nike and Narvi. A relieved sigh was released around the pack when both expressed extreme disinterest with leading, as that would mean they could no longer laze around the den with their father.
Beaivi and Hebe, Nikephoros's youngest two, were happy doing what they were doing - contributing to pack life but not leading it.
Tyche and Fortuna, Andraste's eldest children, turned it down in the same way as their mother. They wished to continue with their roles. Nortia, after heavily considering it, responded she wasn't sure, but might be open to it.
Asclepius, Agni's child, said they wanted to be the Herbalist, not Leader.

Then the extended family.

Ashtoreth was too old for lead, if she was even around when Serapis eventually carked it. Her daughter, Atargatis, however, was very much eligible. Her opinion on the matter was suspiciously absent, something other wolves would have been wise to pick up on.

Inanna and descendants (Aristaeus, Hesat, Hermes) collectively agreed that they would be too old to lead properly, and thought it wise to pass on the opportunity. Pair-bonds of said descendants (Baccus and Naenia) would offer up their children, as both biological and adopted had a fair shot at the throne.

A couple of just Ra's descendants jokingly offered to be the heir, and that was met with laughter around the pack.

The final considerations: Iðunn, Thor, Nortia, and possibly Atargatis. A bit easier to choose, now.

***

Looking around at his pack members, no one could deny the radiance of a leader. They had changed so much since he was a pup, both physically and mentally. The once careless pup had become a good leader, with their parent's hopes of becoming a great one.

Serapis had selected the next Pack Leader. One that possessed a keen eye for leadership, a fair and gentle soul to the other animals, and a fair serving of stubbornness, born from Athena. Serapis also made sure to pick one with a strong interconnection in pack life, beloved and with loving siblings to back them up.

He had chosen Thor, who was delighted, to the point of annoying his siblings.

Noone noticed a certain person stewing at Serapis's declaration, withdrawing into herself the moment the celebration provided a distraction to do so.


7 ROs left
Whispers around the pack talk of Thor starting wars in his scouting missions. Attacking other packs maliciously, stealing their items. It's squashed when Chloris reminds everyone how far south Thor scouts. Mere whispers would not reach them, declarations of war would.

6 ROs left
Ahti fell dangerously sick, it was only due to Loki's quick realisation and Agni's quick diagnosing skills he was able to be saved. When questioned, the twins explained they had been exploring like in their youth, and had eaten some food brought to them by Thor. Whispers never even started, the pack members knowing that it was an accident. Thor had no reason to kill Ahti, he wasn't a threat to his Lead.

5 ROs left
Both Nortia and Iðunn were attacked on their various duties. Neither had life threatening wounds, but petals of a flower were jammed into some of them. They were revealed to be guaiacum flowers, like those in Thor's crown. Both replied they had swiped some from Ascelpius's stash to make sure they wouldn't catch anything. Besides, in their glimpses of their attacker they hadn't seen blue, they'd seen grey and yellow.

4 ROs left
Rocks were thrown at the mentors as they taught their pups. No one was seen, even with Lucina sprinting in the direction the rocks were coming from. Neither Thor nor Serapis could be found, so Chloris took the pack's concerns. A whisper tried to put blame on Thor, but no one could determine why he would do something like this. Another whisper claimed it was his fault because he couldn't protect them. That claim persisted.

3 ROs left
The food storage was dangerously low, confusing all the hunters who were sure they should have brought back more than what was there. Some of the pupsitters snickered about them mixing up hunting days. Serapis interjected, reminding the pupsitters that it was the middle of winter, and it was imperative the stocks be restored. A day later, Thor found a pile of carcasses in the forest, matching the ones lost, and suspicions were placed upon him. How could he be the one to find them, given the events of the past few days. That split discussion. Was he a no-good thief and a future Leader that didn't care about his pack, or would he be such a terrible Leader that his pack would be defenseless against the other animals and pack of the world?

2 ROs left
Pups raced into the den, howling their fear, angry snarls accompanying them. The confused pack members looked up, just to see an angry Black Bear chasing them. Alarms were raised, and the wolves rushed into action.
It took all the off-duty hunters, Iðunn, Thor, and Serapis to fend the bear off. It ended up being Crowley, Frigg's reptilian companion, to spook the bear into finally racing away.
The pups were questioned. None of them said anything.
Höðr whispered that someone with a golden crown had promised them treasure and tasty food if they had entered the bear's cave.
Suspicions of poor future leadership and jealous schemers made their ways around the pack.

1 RO left
Serapis called a Pack Meeting, something that had been rarely done in the pack's history.
He acknowledged the events of the past few days, and all the horrible misfortune that had struck. Yes, the events were horrible, but they absolutely could not be tied back to Thor, through either direct actions or negligence.
This turned a few eyes in Atargatis's directions. All descriptions of the perpetrator matched her, even if Athena's descendants refused to comment on it.
He told off the wolves spreading rumours about his son, accompanied by glares from Loki, Ahti, and Iðunn targeted at the worst offenders.
He reminded everyone that he wouldn't have picked a bad new leader, and to trust his judgement.
None of the gathered wanted to voice their concerns. They knew Serapis's time was almost over, and wanted him to have as much dignity that his grandmother had when she passed. Even an envious wolf kept her disruptions to a minimum, knowing the Pack Leader's family didn't deserve any more pain.
Happy with the reaction from the pack, Serapis, the second Pack Leader, grandson of Athena, gave his goodbyes, and wished his friends and family well.

Part 3: The New Lead

The wolves gathered mournfully as the moon shone through the mist.

Thor huddled into Loki's side as Iðunn comforted their mother, and Ahti their young siblings. Hebe and Beaivi, the more distant daughters of Nikephoros, were hanging slightly back from the rest of their family. Carme, Nike and Narvi were on the other side of Loki from Thor.

The other pack members gathered around the family, a respectful distance to honour their leader for the last time, and give the immediate family room to mourn.

Atargatis knew she shouldn't interfere. That Athena's descendants had just suffered a great loss, and the rest of the pack had been brainwashed into caring. Hell, even Morana had called a truce with Loki.

However…

She had failed. Another undeserving Leader had been cursed onto the pack. She was stuck in the same position as her mother, unable to take the next Lead and praying that her teaching would be enough for her child to take what was rightfully theirs.

Now, the only way to save the pack was Thor's death.

It's time to go.

***

Tara, in front of the pack and new Lead, explained that the door to the Dreamlands was closing, and warned the new Lead to not get trapped in them.

Thor boasted to his brothers about how he would explore and battle in the Lunar Realm, while their sister tried to calm their mother down, reminding Chloris that Thor was a competent scout, and Serapis had trained Thor for the Dreamlands.


That night, an excited Thor opened his eyes in the Dreamlands, and excitedly set forward.
Despite his now multiple adventures in the lunar world, he had yet to get over his initial excitement at returning to the world he had briefly seen in his childhood. He adventured, fighting other animals and collecting Lunar Tears, unable to sense the feeling of being watched.

He paused his adventuring to help a lunar dove.

You're speedier and more agile.

He picked up a healing salve the dove gave him in return for his help.

Just need a couple of well placed strikes.

Thor turned to continue on his journey.

Now.

One second, Thor was stepping forward in his journey, the next an enraged being was upon him, fighting with everything they had. The new Lead tried fighting back, but was unable to get more than a few swipes at the assailant.

Kill him. This is your only chance...

With one well timed shove, Thor's attacker went flying off him, racing away after connecting with the ground. Thor staggered to his feet, wounds stinging as he reached for the healing salve he had received from the lunar dove, applying it to his wounds.

Mission failed...

He'd used healing salves before. He couldn't understand the stinging, different to when his wounds had closed up before.

The great news? He had seen who his attacker was. And he pieced together the puzzle pieces and figured out who had been behind the pack's recent bad luck.

***

Thor stared Atargatis down. Atargatis tried to match his gaze, emotions bubbling up inside her. From the corners of her vision, she could see Thor's siblings, backing up their brother. The empty space behind her made her heart ache for her mother. The rest of the pack formed a loose circle around Thor and Atargatis, leaving enough space to silently inform the two this was their fight.

"Enough," Thor snarled. "Stop this madness, Atargatis."
"Never!" Atargatis snapped back, forcing herself to stop flinching as more blood trickled down her snout. "Your role belongs to me, and the only way I can get it is through your death."
Her statement was met with snarls from the watching siblings.
"Have we not lost enough?" Loki called, voice seething with hatred. "First Time takes our father, now you want to take our brother!"
Atargatis snarled. "Time took my mother, too. And your dear dad doomed your brother the second he gave the leadership to another undeserving wolf."
"How dare you!" Iðunn called. "How dare you question Athena's wishes!"
"She knew our father was a better fit than your mother!" Ahti added. "That's why she picked him!"
"She wanted to pick Nikephoros!" Atargatis snarled, which was met with murmured voices of agreement, some coming from the siblings.
"But she picked Dad," Thor said, attempting to reason. "Because she saw him listening others, instead of Nikephoros's dismissals."
Thor took a cautious step forwards, hesitating when Atargatis flinched away.
"Admittedly, he may have made some bad calls," Thor continued, "And one of the main ones was not making sure your mother was okay. Making sure you were okay."
Thor took another step forward, relieved that Atargatis made no moves to flee.
"One of my biggest fears is failing to listen to my pack, and endangering them. Also, I have to live with the fact that Dad chose me through favouritism, and I want to make sure my choice is less subjective."
"Your mother was afraid of nepotism in the pack." Chloris chimed in. "She was a troubled wolf, but she made some good points. During Serapis's time, all the important jobs around the pack were held by his siblings." She gestured over to Luna and Kore. "It's good that things are starting to change."
"Ignoring the herbalist and pupsitting leader are still technically in the same family," Thor continued, and met Atargatis's eyes.
"So, you wanna help us become better? Help us help the pack?"
Atargatis's voice caught in her throat.
Her mother wanted her to become the new lead. But given that wouldn't happen without bloodshed and war, wouldn't this be the next best thing?
She nodded, her face finally starting to sting in pain. Thor's face relaxed.
"Great! Come on, let's get you cleaned up."